1955 Standard Eight – Project Profile

As far as post war British cars go the small family market was pretty well represented. We had the Austin A30, the the Morris Minor and the Ford 100E but there was also another player to throw its hat into that particularly popular arena. The company was Standard and the car was the Eight. Beginning life as a somewhat spartan and utilitarian conveyance the Standard Eight would evolve over its 6 year production run.

Developed as a successor to the Triumph Mayflower (Standard had purchased Triumph at this point in time) the Standard Eight began its design life-cycle based upon components and tooling from that car in a bid to keep costs down, with the first prototype using the Mayflower platform as a starting point. However, as the process progressed the Eight became its own entity, resulting in a brand new car. Britain was licking its wounds from World War Two and the country’s focus was on recovery rather than flamboyance and so efficient, functional cars were the order of the day with all eyes on Morris and what they had achieved with the Minor.

Taking this ethos on board Standard wanted to sell the Eight as cheaply as possible while still making a profit. This meant that the car was very much paired down upon release in 1953. This meant a monocoque design, stripped back interior with horizontal sliding windows and no external boot lid. If you wanted to stash your shopping you had to cram it in the boot via the rear seats. This rather questionable design choice would later be addressed in 1957 but the car did feature a brand new engine in the form of Standard’s SC 803cc OHV four-cylinder producing a whopping 26bhp.

What is it?

This particular Standard Eight is a 1955 model but with a small difference. In place of the standard Standard engine (sorry) is a 1.5-litre motor from a Triumph Spitfire, almost tripling the car’s peak power output. Coupled with the car’s modest weight this Eight now, to quote the seller, “goes like the clappers”. We approve. Other improvements include a three-rail, four-speed synchromesh gearbox with overdrive (presumably from a Spitfire too), a front disc brake conversion, electronic ignition and new headlights.

Why is it a project?

Whilst the car is correctly registered with the DVLA ans can indeed be driven away it does need some work, most notably a completely new interior and wiring loom. The seller also states that the steering box would benefit from a rebuild. In the grand scheme of things though these are not major issues and this Standard Eight can be taken on as a rolling project, finishing off and updating as you go.

Five things to look for:

1) Engine
There is always inherent risk involved when buying a classic without its original engine and this is no exception. As mentioned, the car does drive so it should be fairly simple to ascertain the health of the motor. The Triumph 1500 units are simple and reliable though and a rebuild isn’t going to break the bank if required. Check any paperwork for evidence of a professional install as well as any history associated with the replacement engine with regards to correct maintenance and servicing.

2) Electrics
As touched upon earlier the car would benefit from new wiring, according to the advert, and so you would potentially have to factor this into your budget. Despite having been upgraded to an electronic ignition, however, electrics in the Standard Eight remain sparse and simple so replacing the entire loom should be a relatively simple process. It might be worth updating the system at this point too, adding in any creature comforts you may require.

3) Rust
Being of unitary-construction the dreaded tin worm can affects the integrity of the frame so get underneath and check for rot in all the usual places. Again, look through any history to see if the car has had regular MOT tests. Being exempt now it may have missed a few which obviously means any potential catastrophic corrosion will not have been officially picked up on.

4) Suspension and steering
Despite its rather basic design the Standard Eight suspension configuration was actually pretty impressive with independent coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers up front and a multi-leaf, live rear axle at the rear. It’s an under-stressed setup although with the additional power certain parts may have been put through their paces so get a feel for how the car handles out on the road and check the bushes for any signs of wear and tear. New front shocks and springs are supplied, however. Find out why the seller thinks the steering box needs refreshing too.

5) Parts
A bunch of parts are included in the sale but the list isn’t fully detailed in the ad. Parts availability is pretty decent though and the brilliant Standard Motor Club can help source most of the things you’ll need. Depending on what you decide to do with this car you might not actually need that much factory stuff.

What should you do with it?

We absolutely love the fact that this Standard Eight comes equipped with a Triumph Spitfire engine under the bonnet and due to the fact the car weighs as much as a Rich Tea biscuit it will no doubt be an absolute hoot to drive. You could either keep it as a fun and kooky daily, updating parts as you go or turn it into a proper little hill climb weapon or period racer. The interior is junk anyway so strip the rest out, put a roll cage in and take it to the track. Whatever you decide to do you’ll have a huge grin on your face while doing it. We love it.